Dryer Drum Speed Cycling for Better Air Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry drying methods using condenser or heat pump dryers face inefficiencies due to compact laundry masses with poor air permeability, leading to increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a rotating drum with variable speed cycles and air flow management to optimize air penetration and distribution, including specific speed ranges and directions to prevent clumping and ensure uniform drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drum rotates continuously at a constant speed, then the drying process is simple to control, but the laundry forms a compact mass with poor air permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is made variable rather than constant. The system dynamically adjusts the rotation speed between different phases: a first rotation speed during the first drying phase, and a second rotation speed (different from the first) during the second drying phase. This dynamic speed adjustment prevents laundry compacting while maintaining operational control.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying process is divided into periodic phases with alternating drum speeds. The system implements a first drying phase with one rotation speed, followed by a second drying phase with a different rotation speed. This periodic variation in operational parameters improves air permeability and drying efficiency while remaining manageable.
2Productivity
If high temperature air is used for drying, then the drying speed increases, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the air flow between different drying phases. During the first drying phase, air at a first temperature is supplied, and during the second drying phase, air at a second temperature (different from the first) is supplied. This parameter variation allows efficient drying while managing energy consumption.
3Productivity
If the drum rotates at high speed continuously, then air penetration is improved, but laundry items are pushed too strongly against the side wall
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is dynamically adjusted between two different values depending on the drying phase. During the first drying phase, the drum rotates at a first speed that provides adequate air penetration. During the second drying phase, the drum rotates at a second speed (different from the first) that optimizes laundry distribution and prevents excessive pushing against the side wall.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces energy consumption by optimizing drum speed and air flow to improve drying efficiency and uniformity, allowing for lower temperature use and effective moisture removal.
Implementation Method 1
rotating said drum (2) at a first speed of rotation so as to push the laundry items towards the side wall (23) of the drum (2) and facilitate entry of the air into a central zone (24) of the drum (2)
Implementation Method 2
the laundry located in a rotating drum are subjected to a flow of heated air until the moisture level detected in the laundry items has dropped below a predetermined threshold
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~8
AI summary
A method for drying laundry placed in a rotating drum (2) of a household drying appliance (1), said drum (2) comprising: i) a front part (21) that faces a door (3) of the household appliance (1), when said door is set in a closed position; ii) a base (22) opposite said front part (21); iii) a side wall (23) that encloses an axis of rotation of the drum (2). The method comprises the stage of carrying out a drying process (B) for drying the laundry which implements a procedure that is repeatedly carried out and, in turn, comprises the stages of: -directing a flow of air inside the drum (2) through an opening (20) in the drum (2), said opening (20) being located in said front part (21) or in said base (22) of the drum (2); -rotating said drum (2) at a first speed of rotation so as to push the laundry items towards the side wall (23) of the drum (2) and facilitate entry of the air into a central zone (24) of the drum (2); -rotating said drum (2) at a second speed of rotation that is higher than the first speed of rotation, so as to push the laundry items towards the side wall (23) of the drum (2) more energetically than in the stage of rotating the drum (2) at the first speed of rotation, this making it possible to improve the entry of the air in the central zone (24) of the drum (2); -rotating said drum (2) at a third speed of rotation, said third speed of rotation being lower than the first speed of rotation, so as to make it possible to dry the laundry items located at said opening (20) in the drum (2). The stage of directing a flow of air inside the drum (2) takes place, at least in part, at the same time as the stage of rotating said drum (2) at the first, the second and the third speed of rotation.